Over 150 beagles rescued from testing at Wisconsin facility, marking over 2,000 released this year

The final 155 beagles from Ridglan Farms, a Wisconsin facility that bred dogs for biomedical research, have been relocated to Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Florida, completing the release of over 2,000 dogs this year. This effort followed scrutiny and an investigation by Wisconsin's Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, which identified 494 violations. In January 2025, a judge found probable cause for animal cruelty, leading Ridglan to settle and surrender its state license to avoid criminal prosecution. Ridglan denied mistreating animals, stating it had "a well-documented history of exemplary animal care." However, Lauree Simmons of Big Dog Ranch Rescue stated, "They choose beagles because they're easy to handle and they're so forgiving."